LITTLE ROCK  Arkansas senators have approved legislation that would make secret the names of about 130,000 people in the state who are permitted to carry concealed handguns.

The Senate voted 24-9 Wednesday on a bill that would make the list of concealed carry permit holders exempt from Arkansas' Freedom of Information Act. State law currently allows the state to release the names and ZIP codes of permit holders.

The bill now heads to the House.

Republican Sen. Bruce Holland of Greenwood says he proposed the change after a New York newspaper published the list of concealed carry permit holders following last year's school shooting in Connecticut. Gov. Mike Beebe and several media organizations are opposed to the bill.

The current law was the result of a 2009 compromise struck in the Legislature.

I want the names and locations of everyone in the state of Arkansas who receive welfare and public benefits to be published and available. I'd also like the media to publish the names and locations of everyone in the state of Arkansas that have been treated for a mental disorder or whom have sought counseling. I think that's only fair don't you?

The name and zip code would be all someone would need to Google or Bing and find the address and phone number of a concealed carry permit holder. It would allow criminals to know houses containing weapons (particularly hand guns) to target for theft.

I agree with rosj2002 & NancyRea. Publishing the names of CCP holders will lead to nothing but increased gun theft. A published list of welfare and public benefit recipients would be interesting (by City/County); I think we would all like to see where our tax money is actually going (and who is buying those BIG tires & rims while on public assistance). At first glance a published list of citizens seeking Mental Health Screening & Treatment would seem to have some merit (research - are more Democrats suffering from mental issues than Republicans?, are John Brummett & Max Brantley on the list?, etc.), but it would only further stigmatize a family of illnesses that remains largely unidentified and untreated.

I think that the State has far more pressing & important business for the State Lawmakers to resolve of instead of rehashing all the old topics (abortion and who has a license to carry concealed). In this day & age, there are not many (if any) secrets that can't be discovered if some one wants to look..

Its easy to tell the good guys from the bad, thier the ones who have submitted a full set of finger prints, have had the FBI, ACIC and lovcal law enforcement curry comb thier background. Then after all of that if the individual lives in the city the chief of police, or if in the county the sheriff gets a chance to say no to the individuals application if he or she feels that the applicant is not acceptable. If rejected there is very little one can do to apeal, the Director of the State Police has the final word when it comes to a CCP being denied or approved.

Man Im really starting to love Arkansas. Just announcing this will make some coward punk re think assaulting someone around here or he will get lead injections, either way, fine with me. I have not one doubt serious injury or death of innocent victims has been avoided. Almost makes me happy to pay my taxes. almost...